[CartersMomma]

I have some (i won't mention the name!) diapers....they are one-size cotton diapers with a snap in liner. I purchased them in two batches, March and may 2003. By December 2003 they had holes in them. Just the ones that are made of cotton knit. The woven diapers are fine. I've talked back and forth with the woman, who is very kind of course, about my wash routine (soak/spin out cycle in cold, long hot wash with melaleuca detergent, dry on hot)....She said she is stumped and offered me 20% another order of 7 diapers and I can keep the holey ones.

What should I expect? I feel that the fabric is defective/a poor choice for using in a dipe, since the other wovens and even some of the other knits are JUST FINE. I don't know if I think her deal is very good!

I can be kind of a high maintenance customer. I don't have a lot of $$$$ to spend, so when I spend it, whether on a diaper or going out for dinner, I like to be satisfied. I'm just wondering if maybe I'm expecting too much from the diaper, the business owner......anyone want to comment?

 

[norcalmommy]

Hmmmm....doesn't sound like a fair deal to me! If she is acknowledging that they're defective, she should replace them, IMO. Or at least offer a better discount- 20% off of 7 diapers is not that great. Now you've piqued my curiosity!

 

[SEEPAE]

hmmm I dont know, I mean holes are normal in any diapers after wear and tear. Some fabric can be defective but that wouldnt be her fault, it would be the fault of the fabric makers, so you could take it up with them.

I know if you have a toploader and a small stash you are more likely to get holes very quickly.

Im probably not much help

 

[Aherne]

I'm not sure what you are expecting, but I think 20% is more than fair. You've used this product for 7+ months.

 

[PatchyMama]

I agree with Aherne

Some prints (usually 100% cotton prints like PRR) get holes faster than others.... most times a diaper WAHM wont know which knits will and which wont...especially because most knits are made for clothing which takes much less wear/tear/washing than diapers do. PRR (for example, i dont know what your prints are) is well known for getting holes, but a lot of people accept that because they like thats its 100% cotton and its often times cute and can be dyed.

I dunno, it sucks tho. But if I bought a shirt from target or some other retail store and it had holes after 7 months I wouldnt hold them responsbile. Heck I have to buy dh new socks every 3 months cause they get holes that quickly :LOL toes of steel or something

 

[SEEPAE]

OK so I figured out what diapers you were talking about, LOL, giving the circumstances of using them on your 2-3yo for 7 months I would definitely expect them to get holes for sure, it is just going to happen. I had one of the same brand and it was done in a carter's baby clothing print, which is suppose to be high quality yet it got holes in it anyway after a while. i think it is unaviodable at some point. Probably the stress from your toddler and the fact that the fabric isnt made to hold up like that.

I think the 20% is fair, because some WAHMs have a 6month guarantee on fabrics(where others dont have a guarantee at all) and the time period between the last purchase and Dec was 7 months so it just seems normal to me. Even hemp gets holes in it after 6+ months of use and it is suppose to be most durable.

 

[DreamingMama]

seriously. Nobody is going to know the outcome of any fabric if washed over and over. My underwear never live past a year so I could not imagine a diaper used every single day would live past a year. Clothing as do diapers develop holes over time even if they are not used for toilet wastes.

 

[Max's Mami]

Natural fabrics break down -- probably not what you want to hear but true. Especially something that takes as much of a beating as diapers. Even VERY high end, natural fiber diapers get hole and we all just sort of expect it to happen. No one likes it but it happens.

 

[kimisaur]

You know, this is something I struggle with....I'm a really good seamstress, and I love making my own dipes and covers. However, most of what I have that I use as the back bone of my stash is from mother-ease. The thing is, they have their fabrics milled just for them, and milled specifically for diapers, as do manufacturers of prefolds. I just haven't been able to match the endurance of their materials, certainly not with fabric originally designed for clothing.

I guess my answer is yes and no. I think unfortunately this partly goes along with buying from WAHMs or making yourself, but yes, I need better wear as well, so my main stuff isn't made of the really fun fabrics. I don't want to sound like I'm saying WAHM dipes can't be made as durable as those from bigger companies, but I also think the two are really apples and oranges, and I keep that in mind when I'm purchasing dipes.

Clear as mud?? ;-)

-Kimberly

 

[mum2tori]

Since it's the knits that are getting the holes and not the others, I wonder if she changes her needles often enough. If you use the wrong needles (not using ball point with knits) or the needles are dull, they can cause small holes to being to form quicker.

Sorry to hear that you are getting holes that quickly.

 

[Jachut]

After diapering my own dd for 15 months, I now wonder what on earth other mothers are doing differently if they're able to hand diapers down to the next child! We've completely annihilated one set of pockets in about 12 months. And I mean completely, they're in absolute tatters.

Maybe its a function of how big a stash you have, I only ever had about 16 so they were getting washed three or four times a week, never tumble dried. The joeybunz are also holey, they were tumble dried. I had visions of selling them all to buy larges, but there's none that are saleable I've thrown them all in the bin.

I feel they served me well and I got my money's worth and I dont have one complaint at all about their quality. They were used hard and loved a lot.

What I think is weird in your scenario is that she appears to have acknowledged some kind of defect but is offering you a dicount on more without looking into how to fix that defect. The fact that they have holes after 7 months in and of itself wouldnt cause me any concern.

 

[allformyboys]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jachut What I think is weird in your scenario is that she appears to have acknowledged some kind of defect but is offering you a dicount on more without looking into how to fix that defect. The fact that they have holes after 7 months in and of itself wouldnt cause me any concern.

I don't think she is as much saying she is at fault as she is trying to keep a customer happy. I don't think this is the fault of the WAHM at all, fabrics break down, after 7 months of use I would expect some to have wear, some fabrics have more of a texture and wear more easily than others, it isn't the WAHM's fault or responsiblity to back that up. 20% off of a new order sounds more than fair to me, most WAHM's wouldn't offer you anything, 7 months is a long time to use a diaper and not expect wear, consider yourself lucky that some of them have held up with no holes.

Honestly people have Fuz that they pay BIG bucks for and they get holes at the 3rd and 4th washing and they don't expect (and won't get) Lori to fix/replace them. It is the nature of the materials, and not the WAHM's responsiblity. Not to mention that a WAHM has no way of knowing how her diapers are treated once they leave her house, she certianly can't be responsible for them after 7 months. I am not saying you mistreated your diapers, but even if you did she would have no way of knowing one way or the other and she shouldn't lose money for it.

 

[kimberlylibby]

Knits get holes. Period.

I wouldn't have bothered her in the first place after 7 months of use!!

C'mon! Sometimes my jeans get a hole in the butt after 7 months of use, but I don't go call Gap and complain. I say "dang, my butt is too big for these jeans and I should get a bigger size next time" or "wow, I really wore those alot! I got my money's worth!"

Kimberly

 

[2much2luv]

Just chiming in to agree. I've come to expect and even embrace holes. :LOL They are a sign that the item is well loved. I also agree with the poster that mentioned Motherease product for example. If you want something that will hold up forever you really need to get a big manufactured product.

 

[Pokey]

Quote:

I also agree with the poster that mentioned Motherease product for example. If you want something that will hold up forever you really need to get a big manufactured product.

I remember seeing in another post a week ago that the Motherease diapers contain a good percentage of polyester which is probably why they seem to last longer. 100% cotton will definitely develop holes much sooner than knits that contain polyester. If you only want natural fibers in your diapers you will have to expect them to break down faster.

Many WAHMs have both 100% cotton knits as well as knits that could contain as much as 50% polyester. If you are worried about holes, and don't mind using diapers with some poly content, just ask the WAHM to use knits that have some polyester in them.

HTH!

 

[CartersMomma]

Thank you for your input girls!

I guess maybe we get too attached to our diapers

I had planned on being able to use them for both kids since I hadn't used them that long on ds. Maybe thats why I"m so disappointed.

I do think the knit is a PRR (whatever that means!) as I've seen the same prints called that on other sites.

I do love her diapers and I guess I'll buy more and be happy that I"m getting discount. I just won't be buying the knits

It is silly that I expect so much, as many of you are right, I would not take other items back to Target/etc...after 7 months of regular use and expect a refund or replacement.

 

[Rising Sun]

Quoting - Since it's the knits that are getting the holes and not the others, I wonder if she changes her needles often enough. If you use the wrong needles (not using ball point with knits) or the needles are dull, they can cause small holes to being to form quicker.

I just want to clarify on this. If the needle has a "nick" in it, it will make holes in the knit, but this will show while sewing, and will be very apparent after the first wash. Needle issues will never wait 7 months to show up... 7 months is a lot of use.

Basically, I would cut this wahm some slack. She is being overly kind in offering any sort of discount on a product that was used for 7 months.

Hard water, urine, the agitator in your washer, and just regular wear are all very hard on fabrics. Cotton fabrics can be delicate.... yet they are so soft and natural. If you are leaving your diapers in the diaper pail for more than 24 hours with urine on them, your fibers are breaking down much faster. (I wash daily for this reason)

It's all just a matter of what is breaking down those fibers. Knits are more delicate, but they are stretchy and therefor give a better fit. It's a tossup... knit or woven?

Teri

 

[PatchyMama]

Quote:

I do think the knit is a PRR (whatever that means!) as I've seen the same prints called that on other sites.

PRR -Painting Red Rhinos ... They make upscale childrens clothes and their leftovers after each season are able to be bought by wahms

It is 100% cotton (lightweight) jersey and will get holes much sooner than most other knits because of it. Tho I dont think this holds true for the PRR printed french terry or velour.. just for the knit jersies.

 

[DreamingMama]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mama2kyla PRR -Painting Red Rhinos ... They make upscale childrens clothes and their leftovers after each season are able to be bought by wahms It is 100% cotton (lightweight) jersey and will get holes much sooner than most other knits because of it. Tho I dont think this holds true for the PRR printed french terry or velour.. just for the knit jersies.

You know I have 6 PRR knit diapers made for me by Jane at Luke's Drawers that I have had for well over a year and they look like they did the first couple months I had them. Not a hole anywhere. Not one! I have heard that the PRR gets holes quicker then others and I am not disputing it but from my experience with this fabric I cannot say I had the problem.

 

[Pokey]

Quote:

You know I have 6 PRR knit diapers made for me by Jane at Luke's Drawers that I have had for well over a year and they look like they did the first couple months I had them. Not a hole anywhere. Not one!

I don't have any LD so I am not sure how they are made, but in my experience, wear on a diaper is cause by frequent use (small stash) and also how the diaper is made. My HBs with PRR inners all had holes at the edges and at the knit tabs much sooner than HBs with flannel inners and tabs. All of my knit print CBs that were T&T developed holes at the edges whereas my serged CBs never had holes near the serging. Also, my CBs occasionally got holes near the center stitching that goes to the outer knit (especially on PRR prints). I have a fairly small stash and have 2 in diapers so they are used and abused to say the least. So IMO, diapers that are turned or diapers that are bound with cotton fabrics are more prone to holes. Also, the more stitching that is done on the diaper the more holes I seem to get (center stitching or soakers sewn all the way through to the outside). Again, this is my own experience so YMMV.

And before any WAHMs who make T&T or bound diapers get upset with my comments, I am just speaking from my *limited* experience and I realize not ALL T&T or bound diapers will get holes.